OT17 Preview

The September edition of The Occupied Times comes out on Monday (Sept 3.)  With the academic year about to begin, our primary theme this month is education: primary, secondary, higher but also general discussion about the culture of learning and how it has been corrupted. Professor Shelley Hydra from The University for Strategic Optimism asks what a radical pedagogy might feel like while Dr Debra Shaw from London’s Free University explores what she sees as the symbiotic relationship between politicising public space and the re-invigoration of education. The OT’s house illustrator, Alex Charnley, also puts down his drawing pen and takes up his writing one to argue forcefully about the corrosive effect that marketisation is having on universities.

In news this month, OT editors report back from a moving memorial for Sean Rigg who died after being violently restrained in police custody in Brixton on 21 August 2008. John Ranson, one of the 16 arrestees from the London action against mining company Xstrata on November 30 2011, brings you the inside story of the case, the eventual ‘not guilty’ verdict and the lessons learned. We also preview the upcoming one year anniversary of Occupy Wall Street. #S17 will see thousands of people converge on Manhattan’s financial district for teach outs, civil disobedience and direct action. For background on what’s been happening with the Occupy movement in the US, read Tim Gee’s article on page four.

In an expanded environment section we look at local and global issues which illuminate the crisis affecting our planet, and explore possible alternatives to the current trajectory. Economist and writer Jeremy Rifkin elaborates on his ideas for a future that revolves around lateral power and a “Third Industrial Revolution.” In ‘Green Economy’, Jody Joanna Boehnert considers the final frontier of capitalism: the commodification of nature and biodiversity. Thiemo Gropp, Director and co-founder of the Desertec Foundation, argues that our post-carbon future should be based on renewable energy not nuclear power. A vivid and urgent example of localised crisis is covered in Emma Fordham’s ‘Ban the Burn!’, which reveals how the destruction of Yorkshire peatlands is related to recent flooding. ‘What’s in a Seed?’ delves into the politics of food and describes farmer Hector Christie’s reasons for taking action against GM wheat trials at Rothamstead Research Centre.

An excellent piece of reportage from freelance writer Dan Hancox, gives us a brief snapshot of what he encountered during his recent travels across crisis-hit Spain. And we also have an article by Natalie Hughes and Kyle Adair Whyte from Fully Focused Productions, a youth-led production company that offers filmmaking as a form of creative expression for young people. Natalie and Kyle write that in their feature-length documentary, ‘Riot From Wrong,’ they led their own investigation into what happened one year ago, speaking to the people involved and they emphasise that the riots must be understood in a wider context and not simply be dismissed as mindless criminality.

And of course you can expect the usual lulz from our back pages as Tales From The Grind makes a return with some more questionable workplace behaviour, we have a frantic account of a mystery attacker terrorising Britain’s schools and don’t forget to check your horoscope to see what your future holds, especially you bankers!

Copies of OT17 will be distributed at events and within communities throughout September, as well as from the shelves of independent businesses across the capital, including Housmans, Black Gull Books, Ray’s Jazz Cafe, Banner Repeater, 56a, The Cockpit and the London Review Bookshop. The full list of stockists can be found on the OT Stockists Map on our website.

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